It is back!!! What we do know about VR Guide to Ravenloft?

[Five]

Some sort of Mist boat/vehicle?

Now you're reminding of the "Avalon arc" of Gargoyles. That is not a bad thing...

I don't remember that. Hell, I don't even remember the "dog's" name.

I should try and track down that series, to see what kind of flashback-kick I get out of it.

Thanks for the reminder!

[FiranDarcalus]

Trying to find it but not sure where it would be. Interested in listening to it if anyone finds it.

Edit: Think it is this one.

https://dnd.wizards.com/articles/featur ... now-hazlan


He briefly talks about Dark Powers, and it sounds like they kept it up to the DM. It sounds like they give you some possibilities the Dark Powers may be (and possible agendas. One of them is you ignore answering the question it sounds like). (Retcon of the Amber Temple?)

Yeah, forgot about that part. It also sounded like that to me as well (DP being left up to DM). That's a positive thing I suppose. They're not completely ignoring some of the old lore.

[Five]

The part that really disappointed me is Hazlik's curse. It's basically Azalin's curse. He cannot learn new spells anymore. So his apprentices are actually more powerful than him so he plays them against each other to keep an advantage over them. That was weird to be honest. Not sure why they gave him part of Azalin's curse.
Also, and this was kind of cool, he ensures that his apprentices have the same tattoos as he does because he can see through those tattoos, sort of like a big brother 1984 vibe I guess. At least that's how I understood it.

If that's all true, not that I doubt you, then I don't mind it. Might not be original, what with the no new spells/Azalin done it first twist, but the tweak of as you said big brother and dog eat dog wizard world is enough to put a fork in that road for me.

Besides, for Azalin it always came off more as a way to ensure his escape attempts failed. Or, to be able to give the DM an easy out as to why he can't break free. His schemes, arguably, played outside of this spell cap.

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

I don't remember that. Hell, I don't even remember the "dog's" name.

Bronx.

I should try and track down that series, to see what kind of flashback-kick I get out of it.

Not sure where you're located, but in the US, at least, the whole series is on Disney+.

[Five]

I don't remember that. Hell, I don't even remember the "dog's" name.

Bronx.

I should try and track down that series, to see what kind of flashback-kick I get out of it.

Not sure where you're located, but in the US, at least, the whole series is on Disney+.

I dumped it after the second season of the Mandalorian aired. Kids weren't really into anything on it, outside of that show. I can't even get them into any animation that looks "retro", not for lack of trying. Not even NES (mine still works great) outside of River City Ransom and some Super Mario Bros 2. Same with Atari. Spiderman was a giggle but a flop. Squares just aren't cool anymore I guess. Haha

But yeah, Disney+ was ultimately a Covid cut, but will be coming back this fall, especially now that I know Gargoyles is on it. Awesome man. I'm gonna just put that on and see if it catches, all on the sly-like. Conan the Adventurer didn't catch but maybe Gargoyles is the one. Either way, if it's just me with an eyeroll from the wife then so be it.

[HyperionSol]

So Hazlik gets a defined curse now at least? Maybe I missed it, but Hazlik never really had a defined curse beyond the feminine markings on his head which his rival had put on him. There is a percent for Darklords to have some similar aspects of their curse. Isn't Meredoth's curse being unable to tinker with spells, unable to make or learn new ones? A bane for someone who only desires to research magic and take it into the unknown. It's quite similar to Azalin's who can't learn any new magic.

This new Hazlik curse takes that 'no new magic' aspect to a unique place. In Thay, Hazlik's homeland, worth is measured in magical skill and power, right? For all Hazlik's position as the lord of Hazlan, he's probably one of the weakest compared to his apprentices. So he's tortured thanks to his pride in his magic, despite being the leader and master of his school, as one of the weaker magicians as apprentices, a fraction of his age surpasses him. He's the low man on the totem pole again.

[Mephisto of the FoS]

So Hazlik gets a defined curse now at least? Maybe I missed it, but Hazlik never really had a defined curse beyond the feminine markings on his head which his rival had put on him.

His curse was to be plagued by nightmares were his old enemies were abusing him and ridiculing him. I guess the reason they changed Hazlik's whole character is that his old background would be insulting to some people, as his enemies ridiculed him for being gay and that was the reason he was tattooed with feminine tattoos. Since one part of his genocide plan (genocide being another forbidden word I guess for VGtR) was to take over Eleni's body, he could actually be transgender. So since WotC rearrange everything to be less discriminating Hazlik's curse changed too. Although I understand the reason I personally think his old curse was more dramatic and tragic cause he has a deep hatred towards the Mulan because he was treated unfairly, and in his psychopathic mind he puts evey Mulan into the same box, choosing to be victimized by his old enemies and making discriminating plans himself.

If the disappearing domain is true I like it as an idea, it reminds me of that magic Hazlik did to that thief in Tales of Ravenloft, but in domain scale. Maybe the El-Koth have returned...

[Drinnik Shoehorn]

Is anyone else expecting in Azalin’s write up the phrase “Make Darkon Great again” to appear?

There is no reason to change Hazlik’s curse to Azalin’s. Again, it just smacks of a complete disrespect for what has come before.

[Five]

Is anyone else expecting in Azalin’s write up the phrase “Make Darkon Great again” to appear?

There is no reason to change Hazlik’s curse to Azalin’s. Again, it just smacks of a complete disrespect for what has come before.

If I see "Make Darkon Great again" then I am boycotting 5E in its entirety. Dungeons and Dragons will be in the same pile as Fireball Island and Battle Masters. It's a good pile, but that's not the point...

I'm a little more forgiving of the setting changes, as it is now said to be. If everything was the same then there wouldn't be much growth for Ravenloft (and pointless for a printed book/sales). Older editions are already immortal through our games, heads, and the FoS, so now it's time for the next wave of creativity. I'm cool with seeing what they got, and what it will inspire in other gamers. Just like I was with 3E Ravenloft.

The Mistipedia is a great way to bridge editions and fans, in addition to these boards, so in some ways that is, or can be, the heart of Ravenloft. Any librarian type people out there have any creative ideas on how to beef that up in preparation for this collision of ideas? Does it even need a makeover/adjustments for efficiency?

[FiranDarcalus]

Hey all, new interview w/ Wes Schneider today on Dragon Talk Podcast. Couple of highlights:

sounds like they're trying to go away from the hammer horror vibe of Har'Akir and Ankhtepot in past editions
not focusing on Egyptian mythology as much
Ankh is more active it seems like in this version
He's actually searching for the different pieces of his soul that have been scattered throughout the domain. Adventures can focus on finding the pieces and what happens if it's returned to Ankhtepot
Still keeping desert, inhospitable realm with a couple of small communities (they mention Muhar, so that's still there) & lots of ruins scattered about the domain
Ankh has mummy servants...they were all former priest of his that were turned into mummies w/ animal heads representing sort of avatars of the deities in the land (called The Children of Ankhtepot...Senmet is mentioned as one of the mummies who actively opposes Ankh and wants to overthrow him)
Ankh destroyed the old pantheon and created his own, new pantheon of deities
Ankh apparently hates being a mummy and wants to find a way to end his existence
Desert covers a vast past of domain and covers a bunch of sub ruins...sort of like a desert Underdark where all the ruins connect across vast distance
Living servants found in towns w/ undead & other monsters in desert area

That was about it....nothing particularly groundbreaking on what came from previous editions...sounds like they didn't make as many changes as they have w/ some of the other domains

[Zilfer]

^thats about what i got out of it as well though I don't know Har'Akir well enough to know much of the difference if I'm being honest.

[Igor the Henchman]

They've changed Ankhtepot's background and his curse. Other than that, the domain seems to have been fleshed out better, rather than reinvented. I like the "we were exploring a regular dungeon and suddenly we're inside a desert tomb" trick, a good alternative to using the Mists. Also it's nice that Senmet is still around.

[Zilfer]

They've changed Ankhtepot's background and his curse. Other than that, the domain seems to have been fleshed out better, rather than reinvented. I like the "we were exploring a regular dungeon and suddenly we're inside a desert tomb" trick, a good alternative to using the Mists. Also it's nice that Senmet is still around.

I actually briefly did this as an interlude room when the PC's were passing through Darkhaven in Nova Vaasa. There was a room with an egyptian motiff and traps that they (wisely) avoided.

Edit: And more on topic, seems there may be an amulet for mist travel between domains, according to a Dragons+ magazine. At least that seems to be what is implied as a possible way to travel between the domains.

[Zilfer]

Possible soft confirmation on Richemulot? This particular photo seems to be made by the same person that made the scared tiefling in the shop. It screams Richemulot to me though we've not had it confirmed yet I think?

https://external-preview.redd.it/hltBwE ... 7b626f3f83

[Igor the Henchman]

Is that the Ghost Dancer I see at 6:50?